Lessons · Fri Sep 18, 2026 · Virtual day
The Parable of the Water — "What Are We Missing?"
Isaiah 1–12
The principle
We climb to the water by faith and works, we draw it with joy, and then we praise Him by telling people where it is — and teaching it is how we find out whether we understand it.
What the lesson is for
Have students read Isaiah 12:3–4 first, then read the whole theme page and bring back one real addition to it — a fifth issue, or a part of the gospel the page explains badly.
Personal study, first ten minutes
Isaiah 12:3–4, before opening the page
Isaiah 12:3 is a thing you do. Isaiah 12:4 is a thing you say. Everything on the theme page is one of those two.
The deck
Click any card to see it full size.
Teacher notes
Supplies, board work and timing. Never printed on the cards.
VIRTUAL DAY — no class. Text the card image Thursday night and again at 6:30 AM Friday, WITH THE LINK IN THE MESSAGE so nobody has to type it: https://lds-southern-seminary.com/theme/ — the URL is printed on the card too, but a tappable link removes the only real friction in this assignment. INSIST ON THE ORDER: Isaiah 12:3–4 first, page second. It is two verses and it takes thirty seconds, and a student who reads the page cold just grades my writing, while a student who reads the verses first has something to measure it against. THE ASK IS GENUINE, not a comprehension check — the page currently names four issues (pride, judgment, not for me, another path) and I do not think that is all of them. Good answers I would half-expect: fear of what changes if it IS true; not believing the water is really there; having drunk once and gone thirsty again; nobody ever told them the station existed; being too busy to be thirsty. ANY of those is a real panel. Tell them plainly that what they send may end up on the site, because it might. This is panel three of the parable being done rather than discussed: they are being asked to declare it. What comes back is one addition plus a reason; that is Friday's attendance and journal entry. MONDAY IS LESSON 196, Missionary Preparation — open it by reading three or four of their additions aloud.
Journal prompt
The last five minutes. Card 0 hands into this.
Write Isaiah 12:3–4 out by hand under Friday. Then write the one thing you sent me — what is missing from the theme page — and why you think it belongs there.